Even More Awards! ❤

This is truly so humbling, y’all. Thanks so much for the nominations! 🙂 ♥ If it’s okay, I’ll skip the “tell three things about yourself” rule for the Mystery Blogger Awards since I am answering a lot of questions here. #rebel Hang onto your hat if you are wearing one; this is going to be a wild ride!

Thank you to Message in Stanza for nominating me for the Awesome Blogger Award for the second time! Maggie over at Dreaming of Guatemala created this awesome award. This is a direct quote from her blog about it: “This is an award for the absolutely wonderful writers all across the blogging world. They have beautiful blogs, are kind and lovely, and always find a way to add happiness and laughter to the lives of their readers. That is what truly defines an awesome blogger.”

The Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you.

Include the reason behind the award.

Include the banner in your post.

Tag it under #awesomebloggeraward in the Reader.

Answer the questions your nominator gave you.

Nominate at least 5 awesome bloggers.

Give your nominees 10 new questions to answer.

Let your nominees know that they’ve been nominated!

Message in Stanza’s Questions:

If you were in a band, what kind of music would you play, what instrument would you play and what would you band name be?

Are there pianos in bands? If so, I’d say that, because that’s the only instrument I can half-play. 😄 I really like rock music, so I guess some sort of Christian rock music. (I love rock ballads!) Band name… The Rock Band? Like, how Christ is our Rock? 😉

What triumphs and obstacles have you faced that has inspired your creativity?

God is helping me overcome depression. I still have battles with it on occasion, but He has already won the war! I am so grateful, I can’t help but write Him praises. I wrote one poem that I have yet to publish that really highlights this, I think. The running title is “Cross In My Heart,” so keep your eyes open for that!

What makes you the happiest, family, friends, religion, or being inspired with your creativity?

All of those do, but it is only by God’s grace that I can enjoy them. In Him, there is joy!

If you have no fear of death, what would you do?

Get up close and personal with some of God’s creation that I would normally stay away from in order to not be lunch. 😄 I would pet a tiger, ride an elephant, hang glide with the eagles, swim with sharks – the hang gliding and swimming thing would normally scare me to death, so if I don’t fear death, that is no longer a problem; I’ll just be scared senseless without dying. 😂

Would you rather fish or skydive? And why did you pick that one?

Fish! Because I am back to being able to die from my fear of heights again. 😂

What bores you to death?

Many sports. (Sorry sports fans.) I’d rather play than watch. 😄

What is your biggest pet peeve?

…just one? 😄 When I can’t find something. It makes me nuts. I have a tiny book of nature poems that I misplaced last month and it drove me up the wall that I couldn’t find it. My mom eventually stumbled across it. In the bookcase. Talk about frustrating… 😅

If you could choose your last words to your loved ones on you death bed, what would you say?

Okay, so… is it sad that this question requires the least amount of thinking of all of these questions thus far? Just a warning, this is going to get a bit dark. These are fragments of a poem that I wrote years ago:

Before I depart, there is one thing I’d like to teach.As the pendulum goes forth and back,It will eventually stop, when the end is reached;Like a candle soon runs out of wax,Or the tide washes ashore a beach –These, my friends, are the facts.
—I wish for no one to lament because of me,I believe that everything happens for a reason,Even if we know not what that may yet be.Time will pass, and change will the seasons,My impending death will not stop these.
—So as my spirit is slowly taken away,To heaven where I may again find peace,I want you to remember me as today,Not as the body that will soon cease.

Thank you to Teresa for nominating me for the Mystery Blogger Award for the third time!

The Rules:

Put the award logo/image on your blog.

List the rules.

Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog!

Mention the creator of the award and provide a link to their blog as well. Thank you to Okoto Enigma.

Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.

You have to nominate 10-20 people.

Notify each of your nominees by commenting on their blog.

Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).

Share your link to your best post(s).

Teresa’s Questions:

If you could change one thing about our country, what would it be and why?

That God isn’t taken out of schools. Give the children a chance to know Him, and maybe they will be less likely to go down the wrong path!

Which super hero powers would you like to have, if given a chance? Why?

Skye // Daisy from Agents of SHIELD. (I’m not sure what that power is called, but I really like it, it’s quite unique.) I could use that to protect people and also have a little fun when no one needs saving…

What motivates you to blog (write)?

My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 🙂 I also enjoy writing for some blogging prompts and challenges.

What is something you like to collect, if anything?

Too much over the years! As a kid, it was bottle caps and pennies. Now, I still like old coins – my grandma gave me some of my great uncle’s collection that she inherited and I treasure those. I also collect crosses. I have one whole corner shelf dedicated to crosses. It’s a constant reminder of what He has accomplished. And I have too many books. I can’t forget postcards. I like getting postcards wherever I go, because they are inexpensive and usually have a pretty photo on them. I was lucky when I went to a flea market and found a bunch of old ones from all over the world! And sometimes, my friends send me one when they go someplace. Here is a small sampling from my collection (you should be able to click each one for a larger view):

If given the chance to rename any fast food restaurant, which would it be? What new name would you rename to?

Wow, that is such a great, unique question! 😄 I’m tempted to say Taco Bell. Why a bell? The bell isn’t made of taco, and the bell isn’t shaped like a taco. It makes no sense. La Casa Grande De Tacos. (Large House of Tacos. I think. Thank you to my friend who is more fluent in Spanish than I am for helping me figure out how to say that in Spanish!) That makes more sense!

Thank you to Maggie for nominating me for the Mystery Blogger Award for the fourth time!

Put the award logo/image on your blog.

List the rules.

Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog!

Mention the creator of the award and provide a link to their blog as well. Thank you to Okoto Enigma.

Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.

You have to nominate 10-20 people.

Notify each of your nominees by commenting on their blog.

Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).

Share your link to your best post(s).

Maggie’s Questions:

What is something you used to despise, but actually quite like now?

Westerns. The Rifleman, Gunsmoke and Bonanza are pretty good sometimes.

When was the last time you laughed really hard?

When I was talking to a friend online and I made a typo and auto-correct failed me and made it even worse. XD

What’s the best book that you read recently? Why did you enjoy it?

That’s hard! I haven’t finished Humility by Andrew Murray or Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper yet, but I really like them so far. The last book I finished was Black by Ted Dekker and it was so great! I also love the author’s ability to create such an interesting world and plot!

Name 5 of your favorite movies.

In no particular order: On The Town, Sound of Music, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Hunger Games, It’s A Wonderful Life.

What are you the most thankful for?

Jesus! Without Him, I am nothing and I would have nothing.

Thank you to Hannah for nominating me for the Mystery Blogger Award for the fifth time!

Rules:

Put the award logo/image on your blog.

List the rules.

Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog!

Mention the creator of the award and provide a link to their blog as well. Thank you to Okoto Enigma.

Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.

You have to nominate 10-20 people.

Notify each of your nominees by commenting on their blog.

Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).

Share your link to your best post(s).

Hannah’s Questions:

If you had one wish, what would it be?

That everyone would have a chance to hear the Gospel. 🙂

If you could get a sequel/extra series to a film or a show that is no longer on air, what would you choose?

Revolution. NBC cut the show without ending it. Now I will never know what happened! I liked Charlie; she reminded me a little of Katniss from the Hunger Games.

Who would you choose to be your alter ego and why?

Hard question! In a way, I guess I already have one. I am Grace, but Penelope Payne has been my online alter ego since 2009. I don’t know if that counts? If not, then… Skye // Daisy or “Quake” from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I would have too much fun with that…

If you could meet any person in history, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Jesus. 🙂 “Why did you create mosquitoes?!” “Why did you create poison ivy?” 😂 Okay, seriously… “What did You write in the dirt?” (In reference to John chapter 8 verse 6.)

Is there something that you do that makes you really happy when you’re feeling down?

Praying and talking to friends. 🙂 Writing and reading also helps.

Is there someone (real or fictional) who inspires you? Who is it and why does this person inspire you?

Jesus! 🙂 He died for me, so that I may live for Him. Also, He has done so many wonderful things – how can I not be inspired by Him?

Do you spend a lot of time listening to, reading, or watching the news?

No. Not at all. It’s too depressing.

Are you a night owl or a morning person?

Night owl. I’ve tried being a morning person, but unless morning can start happening around noon, it’s probably not going to happen. XD LOL. I am my most creative at night. 🙂

Do you have any pets? What kind and what are their names?

This is going to take a while! I have 17 cats: Angel, Belle, Blackie, Catalina, Dottie, Firecracker, Gabbie, Jay, Lolli, Mama Kitty, Monkey, Ode, Rabbit, Radar, Simone, Sketcher, and Sparrow. I also have two opossums that hangs around that I call Prim and Philip, and a raccoon that hangs around that I call Rocky. There is a rabbit that has been hanging around too, but I haven’t named him // her yet. Oh, and a toad has been sitting on the porch-step for the last six days during the afternoons, and I may name him Domino.

Do you talk to yourself out loud?

Yes. 😂 You gotta talk to someone intelligent sometimes. (That’s what my grandma said about it. XD I’m not that boastful, I promise!) I also talk to animals as if they were humans…

Congratulations on all of these awards! See, you have a popular site here!! And I love rock music as well…and you play the piano? Even “half-way” that’s great. That’s true talent, Grace. Sometime we’ll have to compare the songs you like. Mine are classic rock from the 70’s and 80’s. I also like smooth jazz…

Thank you! 😊 ❤ Yes, and it blows my mind; I never expected to have so many people visit my site! It’s truly a blessing, and it’s so humbling!

I can play by ear. 🙂 I’d like to be able to read sheet music, but it’s much harder than I thought so I keep giving up and then returning to it. 😅 Thanks!

Oh yes, definitely! 🙂 I really like the classic too. Journey (Don’t Stop Believin’), U2 (With Or Without You), Heart (These Dreams 😍), and others. 🙂 I know there were a couple of Bon Jovi songs I liked but I can’t remember the names of the songs… 😅 Does Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino count as jazz? If so, then I like some of that too. 🙂

Wow, I think you have great taste in classic rock music, Grace! I love CCR, The Stones, Chicago, and sooo many more. And yes, Armstrong and Fats qualify as jazz. There is a slight difference between jazz and smooth instrumental jazz. I like both, but really like smooth jazz. And I used to play a bit of guitar when I was younger. But I never read music.

To play it well does require patience and a lot of practice, just like the piano I’m sure. I tried to play a keyboard and actually got down a bit of a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” but that was it! The guitar is a bit easier in my estimation…